RNLI

King Billy · 15 Jul 2026

motorbiking said:
Tides do not change significantly from one year to the next. We have around the same number of high tides and the same number of low tides, the same number of neaps and the same number of springs. This is correct. The tide only affects the time of day they can cross for optimal conditions. They are also not unpredictable, they are published in books and have been published for many years.

Prove me wrong.

Strawman argument.
No-one is arguing that the tides are not predictable. But they are not the only influence on small boat crossings, which we've been stating for the last umpteen pages.

King Billy · 15 Jul 2026

motorbiking said:
waiting..

I'm still waiting for your definition of 'illegal migrant'. (Or Motties, or Rds30h )

Perhaps we can wait together and amuse ourselves with unbiased discussion of global affairs?

motorbiking · 15 Jul 2026

fillyboy said:
Never worried too much about tides mesen, wind, that's another story. I once found God on the way from Barmouth to Aberystwith, after sitting it out for a couple of days decided to go for it with a forecast 4-5 occasional 6, it was more like 6 turning into a 7, I found myself on my knees at one point praying to me deceased Ma, making promises I knew I'd never keep. Desperate for a wee but deeming it too hazardous to go below, I p155ed meself where I knelt. We got there and made it into port, reading the guides (afterwards) we should never have attempted to go in, we were outside the tidal window and the rocks either side of the entrance beckoned, it would have been safer to stay offshore, the boats were capable even if we weren't.

Bristol Channel has some strong tides, but still nothing to match the Channel Isles where sailing backwards is not unusual. (12 knot tides?).
What are the tides on the small boat route?, 3-4 kts on a spring?

Yep there are plenty of places in the UK where you have tidal races - none in the dover straits.
Riding the "magic carpet" from Alderney to St Marlo is fun, You get a 5-9kt tide going south for about 4 hours, with a decent wind 15+kts SoG is possible.

motorbiking · 15 Jul 2026

King Billy said:
Strawman argument.
No-one is arguing that the tides are not predictable. But they are not the only influence on small boat crossings, which we've been stating for the last umpteen pages.

Its actually what you, boyo and the other you have been arguing for the last dozen pages.

So we agree - tides do not affect the number of people who cross year to year.

Koolpc · 15 Jul 2026

King Billy said:
You should try a positive contribution occasionally.
You might find the forum even more rewarding.

Woof!

motorbiking · 15 Jul 2026

King Billy said:
I'm still waiting for your definition of 'illegal migrant'. (Or Motties, or Rds30h )

Perhaps we can wait together and amuse ourselves with unbiased discussion of global affairs?

Google can help;

An "illegal immigrant" is generally defined as a person who enters, lives, or works in a country without the necessary legal authorization or documentation required by the government. This includes individuals who entered the country covertly and those who entered legally but stayed after their visa expired.

Since none of them have a right to be in France and none of them have completed the necessary paperwork to enter the UK and all have the intention of staying when they arrive - they are illegal immigrants. Their method of entry is illegal, hence the term "illegals".

King Billy · 15 Jul 2026

motorbiking said:
Yep there are plenty of places in the UK where you have tidal races - none in the dover straits.

The Dover Strait has very strong tidal currents. Speeds commonly reach 3 to 4 knots (about 3.5 to 4.6 mph) during normal tides, and can exceed 5 knots (about 5.7 mph) during peak spring tides.

These strong currents occur because a large volume of water must squeeze through a narrow channel between the Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea.

Specific details:

Tidal Streams: The water flows toward the North Sea (flood tide) and back toward the Atlantic (ebb tide). []

Tidal Races: True, violent "races" (extremely turbulent waters) are more localized to specific headlands and shallows, like the nearby Varne Bank. [1, 2]

Rough Seas: The main currents often create turbulent overfalls, especially when the fast-moving water hits strong winds or passes the shallow underwater sandbanks. [1, 2, 3, 4]

motorbiking · 15 Jul 2026

maybe look up where the Varne Bank is

Its not on route for small boat crossings.

King Billy · 15 Jul 2026

motorbiking said:
Google can help;

An "illegal immigrant" is generally defined as a person who enters, lives, or works in a country without the necessary legal authorization or documentation required by the government. This includes individuals who entered the country covertly and those who entered legally but stayed after their visa expired.

At last.
So an asylum seeker is not an illegal migrant.
Glad we got that sorted.
So why do you constantly refer to asylum seekers as illegal migrants?
If we're goiung to have a sensible discussion we should use words and terms that are universally recognised.
And the term for an asylum seeker as an illegal migrant is blatantly incorrect.
Do you use the incorrect term intentionally, or out of ignorance?

motorbiking said:
Since none of them have a right to be in France

Squirrels

motorbiking said:
and none of them have completed the necessary paperwork to enter the UK and all have the intention of staying when they arrive - they are illegal immigrants. Their method of entry is illegal, hence the term "illegals".

They are potentially illegal immigrants, but you can't be an illegal immigrant until you set foot in UK.
As they complete the necessary process, at the earliest opportunity, they become asylum seekers.
So at no time are they illegal immigrants.

But if it pleases you to demonise them by using the incorrect term, it illustrates nothing more than your bigotry, and your willingness to abuse asylum seekers.

King Billy · 15 Jul 2026

motorbiking said:
maybe look up where the Varne Bank is Its not on route for small boat crossings.

It's in the Dover Straits.

Tidal Races: True, violent "races" (extremely turbulent waters) are more localized to specific headlands and shallows, like the nearby Varne Bank. [1, 2]

motorbiking said:
Yep there are plenty of places in the UK where you have tidal races - none in the dover straits.

Indeed.

motorbiking · 15 Jul 2026

"Tidal Races" do you want me to explain them?

motorbiking · 15 Jul 2026

King Billy said:
At last.

They are potentially illegal immigrants,

we got there.

King Billy · 15 Jul 2026

motorbiking said:
"Tidal Races" do you want me to explain them?

No need. If I needed to know I find Google far more reliable, consistent and unbiased.
Additionally the experts are far more knowledgeable than you, as you have have illustrated over the course of the last multiple pages of waffle.

King Billy · 15 Jul 2026

motorbiking said:
we got there.

King Billy said:
At last.
So an asylum seeker is not an illegal migrant.
Glad we got that sorted.
So why do you constantly refer to asylum seekers as illegal migrants?

So at no time are they illegal immigrants.

So why do you and others insist on calling them illegal migrants.
Do you refer to your house as a plane, a boat, or some other object simply because you want it to be?

motorbiking · 15 Jul 2026

King Billy said:
No need. If I needed to know I find Google far more reliable, consistent and unbiased.
Additionally the experts are far more knowledgeable than you, as you have have illustrated over the course of the last multiple pages of waffle.

Feel free to google more irrelevant facts.

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